Square that hat and salute Old Glory matey, then come aboard for another cruise on the USS Benham, a cruise down memory lane. One designed to renew old friendships and kinships, to bring back memories of those things that were special, and so much a part of our lives, as together we sailed the seas of the known....and the unknown. A critical voyage for many of us who came aboard as boys, and went home as men. And to those who did not make it back home, a special "hello" to their families...with hope that by some means they will learn of this site and be able to read of the Benham history and know that their loved ones are not forgotten by their shipmates.
This is the web site of the Destroyers USS Benhams DD796, DD397 and DD49 and of the various crew members who graced their decks during their lifetimes. This page is designed much as a scrap book, no frames or tables to complicate printing the pages for filing in a scrapbook. Permission to reproduce any and all parts of this site for other than commercial purposes is given. Material to reproduce and publish on this page is solicited. Any photos or documents anyone can lend me will be scanned and returned.
The USS Benham web page was an undertaking started several years ago by our crew member John Sharpe. He passed the web page to me several years ago with the knowledge that he was not able to keep it up due to health problems. It is with deep regret that I learned John Sharpe passed away on Feb. 27, 2004 after a long illness. It is my hope that this web site will be a fitting memorial to a man with vision and with much effort developed a web page when the Internet was just begining to be a household word. It was his interest in bringing together his shipmates that this site continues.
May God welcome you John and peace be with your family. Thanks from all your shipmates for a job well done.
John Bowerman, webmaster
I want to take this opportunity to give a belated "well done" to Dick Spangler for the great job he has done over the years. Much of my printed material came from the "Benham Salts" and having researched material for the past few months I have a great deal of respect for the effort extended in his gathering of information for publication in our newsletter.
While this is the homepage of the Benham Salts it also contains information relating to activities and functions of the WWII Plankowner/crew member Association and also the DD397 Association. Thanks to Don Moshier and Bob Frank for providing the information. Data for all groups can be found on the Association page.
Please note that we have a memorial page (In process of being rebuilt after the YAHOO teardown) for our shipmates who are deceased. Please forward any information relating to past shipmates you may know of and review the page when you visit.
John Bowerman
7199 W. Sundown CT
Frederick, MD 21702
Tel# 301-663-8035
or
Send email to... jbower10@yahoo.com